So often, when the worst seemed over for Nene, it got worse.
Let’s hope the best is yet ahead for the Nuggets’ strongman.
Doctors have removed a testicular tumor from Nene and are awaiting a biopsy result.
Born Maybyner Rodney Hilario in São Carlos, Brazil, then nicknamed the Portuguese word for “baby,” Nene has been tested throughout his 25 years — and always passed. He no longer is a babe. This is his most difficult test.
Last Friday the Nuggets announced Nene was taking an indefinite leave because of a serious medical issue.
In his most recent game, Nene produced his most impressive performance of another troubled season, 12 points and nine rebounds in 23 minutes.
The reason for his other absences in six seasons always was clear. He was injured. Nene’s most recent departure from the court and the team was mysterious. There’s a tendency, when pro athletes are involved, to speculate and investigate. But, in this case, the Nuggets asked the media and the public and the other players to respect Nene’s privacy, and everyone did.
Coach George Karl could understand and relate more than most. He is a prostate cancer survivor, and his son, Coby, has undergone cancer surgeries and treatment twice — and recovered to play in the NBA.
In the way of the new world, Nene has released information about his condition on his website.
And just when all seemed better for Nene . . .
He was a soccer player as a growing kid in Brazil before seeing an NBA game on television and dreaming of becoming a basketball player. There’s no high school basketball in his home country, so Nene played as a teenager on a club team — and earned $14,000 a year. He was discovered, scouted and, in 2000, thought of seriously as an NBA prospect after playing in the Pan American Games.
Nene was acquired by the Nuggets in a draft day trade with the New York Knicks — coming to Denver with Marcus Camby in exchange for Antonio McDyess, one of the unfortunate Nuggets’ stars who had suffered a debilitating knee injury.
The 6-foot-11, 250-60-85-pound Nene showed up raw in 2002-03 and the following season, then missed 27 games in 2004-05 with a knee sprain, a hip contusion, a strained hamstring and as the result of an altercation suspension. Nene played the first three minutes of the 2005-06 season before tearing the ACL in his right knee. He didn’t play again.
He, nonetheless, was signed to a mammoth contract ($60 million) to match his size.
Additional right knee and weight problems limited him to 64 games last year, but he was big and strong at the end, averaging 15.2 points and 7.8 rebounds in the playoff series against San Antonio — and putting some hurt on Tim Duncan. The Nuggets believed Nene had come of age. They believed he would combine with Camby as a power force up front and down low this season.
Then, there was another setback for Nene on Nov. 7, when he tore a ligament in his left thumb that required an operation. He didn’t return until Dec. 26.
Late on the night of Jan. 3, after the Nuggets beat San Antonio, when Denver had its full lineup for only the second time this season, Karl was trying to figure out how to set up his forward-center rotation and get every player, and especially Nene, into the flow.
Nene played only three more games.
Out of a possible 447 games in his career, Nene has appeared in 289. He has averaged 10.8 points and 6.4 rebounds. And he’s had his moments, 28 points in one game, 17 rebounds in another, 40 career double-doubles. But the length and breadth of a full season with major numbers and success in the playoffs remains unfulfilled. More important, his life remains to be filled.
On Tuesday, in a statement, Nene thanked the Nuggets and the fans. “My victory will be their victory as well.”
Before training camp, Nene and I wound up in the same Cherry Creek restaurant, and he was encouraged, and happy.
“I think I am finished with the worst things, and I will have the best things this year.”
Let’s hope.
Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com
